How poignant. A stele standing silently, a testament to a woman’s deep devotion. This is the \u5973\u4eba\u5f80\u751f \u3055\u304b\u308c\u3093\u3052\u963f\u5f25\u9640\u5982\u6765 Stele. It’s also referred to as the Sakasa Kannon, or Inverted Kannon.
The \u5973\u4eba\u5f80\u751f \u3055\u304b\u308c\u3093\u3052\u963f\u5f25\u9640\u5982\u6765 Stele is unusual. The lotus pedestal of the Kannon statue is placed upside down. This curious inversion has led to a local legend.
The story goes that during the Heian period, a man named Genshin built a temple here. He called it Anyoin. He dedicated it to his sister, Annyo. The temple flourished, but time can be a cruel sculptor. It eventually fell into disrepair.
It’s said that during the reconstruction, no matter how hard the workers tried, the pedestal kept flipping. It stubbornly refused to be placed right side up. Finally, they realized this was a sign. Annyo, a woman of deep faith and resilience, remained ever steadfast in her devotion. It seemed fitting then that her effigy should reflect this unwavering spirit. The \u5973\u4eba\u5f80\u751f \u3055\u304b\u308c\u3093\u3052\u963f\u5f25\u9640\u5982\u6765 Stele stands today, a quiet reminder of her enduring faith.